E-DRUG: History of Central Medical Stores (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Crossposted from IAPHL with thanks]
In Fiji the colonial system introduced the CMS in the 1890s.
Apolosi Vosanibola
Chief Pharmacist
Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services Centre
Apolosi Vosanibola <avosanibola@govnet.gov.fj>
E-DRUG: History of Central Medical Stores (10)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear e-druggers,
This is a brief history about central medical stores in Sudan.
Like many others, it had been started during the colonial time in the mid 1930s.
For those who are interested in further details, please refer to this link: http://cms.gov.sd/content/NHSC_in_sudan.pdf
National Medical Supplies Fund: Historical Background
The National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF), previously was Central Medical Supplies Public Corporation, is an organisation with a lengthy, 80 years, pedigree.
NMSF is the national center for procurement, storage and distribution of medical supplies in Sudan. It was established during British colonial time, in 1935 as Central Medical Stores in the Sudan Medical Services, and then transferred to the current building in 1954.
First Sudanese appointed in 1957 as a manger of the organization, one year after
independence of Sudan. In 1980 it had been transformed into general directorate
in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), under a new name, the Central Medical
Supplies. The NMSF facilities are located at the Industrial Area of Khartoum
South - Alhuria Street. Its buildings were refurbished by Dutch aid in 1988.
Change of NMSF' legal status:
at different points of time in its history, there has been no hesitation in making the changes necessary for NMSF to maintain its mission, i.e. to serve the public interest, ensuring access to quality medicines at all times.
In February 1991, the Central Medical Supplies became a para-statal organization under the Organization Act 1991 which allowed the new organization to exercise the maximum possible autonomy within the framework of the Government of Sudan. It was subsequently renamed the Central Medical Supplies Public Corporation (widely known as CMS).
In June 2015, the president of Sudan has signed a new Act that changed CMS to be a National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF) after its approval by the National Assembly. This development gives the NMSF independent establishment status. According to the Act, the NMSF is a non-profitable organization, which is a juristic body, it can sue and be sued.
Change of drug financing mechanism:
Before NMSF was given autonomy in 1991, all medicines and medical supplies that it procured and warehoused were given free of charge to public health facilities. However, from 1992, and since becoming a semi-autonomous organization, NMSF followed the strict revolving drug fund model, with funds collected being channeled back into further procurement of drugs, vertical and horizontal expansions,
operating and capital expenditures. NMSF is working on a cost-recovery system,
to be in line with the cost- recovery policy that is implemented by government
at all health facilities in the public health sector of Sudan.
Free emergency medicine project:
in its efforts to contain the problems of those who cannot pay for their medicines, in 1996, the government announced a project for free treatment at hospital emergency units. The emergency free medicines project was intended to increase access for those who need emergency treatment in hospital casualty departments, regardless of their ability to pay.
According to this project, all patients are entitled to receive free services
including medicines, during the first twenty-four hours of admission. The NMSF
receives a special budget from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy
(MOF) for the free distribution of emergency drugs at hospitals’ emergency
departments.
Establishment of Revolving Drug Funds at States:
by 2002, a Revolving Drug Fund Program (RDF) had been established in 17 States by CMS and MOF, as part of a drive to get medical supplies to all parts of the Sudan. The headquarter of the RDF project is the NMSF. To start the RDF projects, the NMSF provided seed stock of essential medicines, and also provided funds for training of staff at the facilities and towards the logistic function for these medicines in the
states. The RDF has thus become one of the mechanisms used by NMSF to
distribute its supplies.
The President of the Republic responded by attending the RDF’s opening ceremony at the NMSF in 2001. On this occasion, the President decreed that the RDF should be established in all states and directed the FOM to fund the roll-out of the project. His Excellence also directed the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General to draft a Federal framework Act for the RDF.
Global Fund:
UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria (GFATM) and is the UN agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient
of GFATM grants in Sudan. The FMoH has undertaken efforts to achieve this,
through the establishment of a separate Procurement and Supply Management (PSM)
Unit which was under the General Directorate of Pharmacy (GDP). However, in
June 2011, there was a ministerial decree designating the NMSF as the preferred
PSM implementation partner in Sudan. In line with the recent decision by the
Ministry of Health regarding the integration of PSM interventions within the NMSF.
In addition to the increase in access to these services, there are several
activities aimed at increasing demand for HIV, TB and malaria services in Sudan.
Other business:
since 1998, NMSF has been a shareholder in two joint local pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises, in which the following is the arrangement: Shanghai-Sudan Pharmaceutical Company based in Khartoum, manufactures a number of capsule and tablet formulations. In this enterprise, the CMS, on behalf of the government of Sudan, has 45% share, while the government of China government has 55%. NMSF
was also had shares in a private pharmaceutical company based at Ain pharmaceutical factory that is almost ready to start producing Intravenous fluids. The CMS has 24% of the shares.
NMSF's Branches:
by 2012, most of the RDFs at state levels ceased to revolve. NMSF realises that it will not do much good to bring more medicines into the country, if the distribution system fails to ship supplies to the periphery.
Recognizing the gravity of the problem of lack of quality medicines, especially at primary health care facilities, NMSF has launched a new model for integrated supply system of medicines to the states in 2012.
According to this model, NMSF separates supply of medicines from the cash
collection. By the end of 2015, 16 states have signed documents of
establishment of NMSF branch with the NMSF. This document entitles the NMSF to
manage the supply chain through establishment of NMSF's branch in each state.
According to its obligations set out in the the Act, NMSF provided the capital
seed stock of medicines as a revolving fund. As in figure 9, the NMSF invested
more than SDG168.4million (US$ 34 million) to establish these branches.
Yours sincerely
Gamal Khalafalla Mohamed Ali PhD, MSc, PG Dip. (Health Econ.), B.Pharm (Hon)
National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF) Sudan
Director General
e-mail: gamalkh@nmsf.gov.sd
E-DRUG: History of Central Medical Stores (12)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Some information from the DRC.
The Central Medical Store in the DRC was founded in 1942 (Dépôt Central
Medico Pharmaceutique), well before independence. It became
non-functional in the early 90's and was officially disbanded in the
early years of this century.
With best regards,
Ed
Ed Vreeke
www.hera.eu
7 Walmer Road, suite 1210
Toronto, ON
Canada, M5R 2W8
Ed Vreeke 01 <edvreeke01@gmail.com>
E-DRUG: History of Central Medical Stores (13)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dear e-Drug,
Interesting report from Ed Vreeke.
What then is the situation in DRC for supply of essential medicines and related health products?
Regards,
Bonnie
Bonface Fundafunda PhD., MBA., B.Pharm
Managing Director,
Medical Stores Limited
P.O. Box 30207
Mukwa Road, Plot 6446
Lusaka,
Zambia
Email: bonface.fundafunda@medstore.co.zm
E-DRUG: History of Central Medical Stores [DRC] (14)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[In response to 'What then is the situation in DRC for supply of essential medicines' Jan19.]
Dear Bonface,
The DRC procurement and supply configuration is based on a public
private partnership between the central and provincial government and a
total of 17 independent not for profit regional medical stores. These
medical stores have organised themselves through a federation (FEDECAME)
that has two procurement offices. One in Kinshasa and one in Goma. It is
a unique system covering almost the entire country but unfortunately for
a variety of reason does not cover all the public sector pharmaceutical
needs.
If you would like to have more information on the system please send me
an email.
With best regards,
ed vreeke
edvreeke@gmail.com
Senior partner with hera
www.hera.eu
Ed Vreeke 01 <edvreeke01@gmail.com>